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ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton has requested an independent audit of the university’s athletic department in hopes of putting to rest continuing concerns raised about the financial health of the Pirates’ sports program. Staton told The Daily Reflector in a conversation Wednesday he asked the UNC System to hire a private firm to review the department’s finances. The audit would be the latest in a number of reviews prompted by criticism from alumni and concerns about a deficit of more than $3 million between spending and revenue in the department — blamed in part on fees associated with ECU’s entry into the American Athletic Conference. “A lot of it has to do with athletics and two 3-9 football seasons in particular,” Staton said of ECU, which bought out the contract of unpopular athletic director Jeff Compher in the spring, hired former ECU AD Dave Hart as a special adviser but has not named a permanent replacement. ECU acting chief operating officer Lee Workman, who also is the acting athletic director until a new one is named, offered support for Staton and the audit process on Thursday. “We support the chancellor in his decision to initiate this process and will supply all information that is requested,” Workman said via email. “It is our belief an outside, independent review will address any additional questions.” -Michael Abramowitz and Nathan Summers, The Daily Reflector, Read More